With millions of Americans beginning to spend more of their time outdoors, we are all excited to get outside and enjoy the warm weather and all the fun it has to offer. However, many of us may be so excited to feel the sun on our skin again, we may be turning a blind eye to proper sun safety.

Here to explain why we should be keeping a quality SPF in our routine is Donaldson Plastic Surgery Lead Medical Aesthetician, Tatjana Dzamov. Tatjana’s extensive knowledge and background gained over a 25 year long career as a licensed aesthetician have made her one of the Columbus area’s most sought after aesthetic providers. Tatjana offers many different treatments guaranteed to keep your skin healthy and regulated during the changing seasons.

What’s at risk if we don’t wear an SPF?

Tatjana: Our skin is the largest organ that we have, and yet, the most neglected. The skin layer is a very thin membrane that separates us from our environment, and the damaging effects of UV exposure, all year long. Our skin is exposed to UV rays daily and the long term effects are usually seen later in life. Sun damage is the most common skincare problem among men and women, with 80% of the photo damage happening before the age of 18.

A Closer Look at the sun’s harmful rays

Tatjana: There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB.

The UVA rays are the rays that penetrate the deepest layers of our skin and this can lead to premature skin damage, aging, as well as skin cancer. UVA rays can penetrate through clouds, so wearing sun protection year long is very important. UVB rays, on the other hand, cause sunburn to the superficial layers of the skin and play a key role in the development of skin cancer.

With all this said, exposure to either kind of UV ray causes damage to the DNA of our skin cells, no matter if we burn or if we tan. It’s highly recommended that every person gets a yearly body skin check with your dermatologist and that you wear a Physical Sun Protection of at least SPF 30.

The benefits of a physical sunblock

Tatjana: A lot of people are unaware that there are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical.

At Donaldson Plastic Surgery, we recommend a physical sunblock. Physical SPF sits on top of the skin and reflects the sun’s rays. The minerals titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the main active ingredients in physical blocks. Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, absorbs into the skin and allows harmful UV rays to enter the skin’s cells. The chemical sunscreen converts the rays into heat, and releases them from the body.

Our medspa carries three SPFs from the medical grade skin care lines that we often recommend. The Sheer Physical Sunblock from my line, Tatjana by Donaldson Plastic Surgery, is a great choice for all of our patients. The Intellishade TruPhysical SPF 45 from Revision Skin Care is a great tinted SPF that protects against free radicals, and the RAD Broad Spectrum SPF 30 from the Environ Skin Care line contains antioxidants to keep your skin healthy and balanced.

Regardless of which sunscreen you choose, it is important to make it part of your daily skin care routine. Regular application of sunscreen can reduce your chances of skin cancer while also prolonging the development of wrinkles and sun spots.

READY TO GET YOUR SUMMER GLOW? WE’RE OPEN TO HELP!

The Donaldson medspa will be opening again on June 1st, (abiding by all of our reopening safety protocols), and doing what we do best – helping smart, fun and beautiful people shine! For more information, call Donaldson Plastic Surgery at (614) 442-7610 and ask to schedule a Skincare Consultation with Lead Medical Aesthetician Tatjana.

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, and with all this cold and snow, there’s a good chance your lips are feeling dry and flaky. That’s not at all what you want when you’re about to pucker up! Don’t worry — there’s still time to get soft, kissable lips by the 14th. Just follow these three simple steps and you’ll be ready for your next big kiss in no time.

Gently exfoliate (at least) weekly

You already know how important regular exfoliation is for your face and skin, but don’t forget about your lips! Because our lips have a thinner layer of skin compared to the rest of our body, they lose moisture fast. Exfoliating is the best way to remove any dry, flaky skin that has built up on your lips.

The easiest way to exfoliate your lips — take a clean washcloth, run it under warm water, then gently rub the washcloth over your lips in circular motions to scrub away the dead skin. Sugar scrubs are also great for exfoliating the lips. If you don’t have one handy, you can always mix a little sugar and coconut oil together to make your own simple sugar scrub. Take a small amount of the scrub and use your finger to apply it to your lips, again using soft, circular motions. When you’re finished, wipe away the scrub using a damp washcloth and pat them dry.

If you’re taking the sugar scrub route, make sure you’re not using it more than twice per week or you could end up irritating your lips. Always follow up exfoliation with a moisturizing lip balm to keep the lips soft and smooth.

Apply lip balm throughout the day

Speaking of lip balm, we recommend keeping it with you at all times. Moisturizing is key to plump, kissable lips. Most people will simply lick their lips whenever they’re feeling a little dry, but this actually just dries your them out further! The best thing to do when on the go is to reach for your favorite lip balm. Just a quick swipe across your lips and you will instantly feel better.

Just keep in mind that not all lip balms are created equal! There are a number of products out there that are formulated with ingredients that can irritate and dehydrate the lips — the very thing they are supposed to be preventing. Before you buy a lip balm, check the ingredients for any of these red flags: fragrance, menthol, camphor, or salicylic acid.

You should also watch out for petrolatum. This ingredient is designed to seal your lips and keep moisture from escaping, which you would think is a good thing. But it also prevents further moisture to get in, so your lips end up drying out in the long run. Stick to lip balms that use natural oils to seal in moisture.

Drink lots of water

Are you getting your eight glasses of water a day? Well, it’s time to start drinking up. Not only is drinking water important for your overall health, it’s one of the best ways to keep your lips looking fresh.

When your body is dehydrated, your lips are often the first place it will show. They will look deflated and maybe even a little wrinkled, especially if you already have age lines showing around your mouth. All it takes is a tall glass of water to breathe life back into your lips! Get into the habit of drinking a full glass of water when you first wake up in the morning and start carrying a reusable bottle with you while you’re out running errands so you always have water with you.

If you’ve tried everything and your lips still feel dry and deflated, it might be time for a lip repair treatment! The treatment is great for decreasing fine lines and wrinkles to give your lips a more youthful appearance. If you want kissable lips and you want them now, this is definitely the route to go! To schedule a lip repair treatment, call Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions at 614-442-7610.

Cooler weather, leaves changing color, pumpkin spice lattes back in your favorite coffee shop — there’s only one explanation. It must be fall! That means it’s time for you to swap your summer T-shirts for some cozy sweaters, and time for us to roll out the lasers.

Yes, we technically have our lasers on hand all year round, but fall is undeniably the best time to use them. For the next few months, we’re going to be ramping up our Halo, BBL and laser hair reduction treatments.

If you’ve been wishing for glowing skin or more time between shaving, this is the time to book. Here’s why.

1. You can wipe away summer’s sun damage

Who doesn’t love lounging by the pool, vacationing in tropical places or spending a warm day in the park with their family? Soaking up that warm summer sun always feels good in the moment … but it can take a toll on your skin.

We’re talking UV-induced dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. The best way to avoid sun damage is to avoid it altogether — applying SPF, wearing a floppy hat and staying indoors during peak sun hours. But even if you did all of that, you likely didn’t escape summer completely unscathed.

Our Halo and BBL laser treatments specifically target the effects of sun damage. So if you got a little too much sun this summer and want to hit the reset button, these lasers are the perfect solution.

2. Lasers and the sun don’t really mix

The other reason fall (and winter, really) is such a great time to undergo laser treatments is that the cooler weather keeps us bundled in our sweaters and jeans or indoors altogether. You see, the sun can cause all kinds of trouble for recently-lasered skin.

With laser treatments, you’ll need to stay out of the sun for a few weeks before and after your treatment. That’s a hard thing to do in the summertime!

Treatment of tanned or sunburned skin puts you at an increased risk of blistering, while post-treatment sun exposure can leave you with permanent skin discoloration and even worse sun damage than you had before. This is why laser treatments are best scheduled during times of the year when we get less sun.

3. It takes time to get the full results

Lasers aren’t a one-and-done kind of treatment. To get optimal results, you’ll need to undergo a series of treatments and that takes time to do! You don’t want to start laser hair reduction in April and then not have your legs ready for that summer vacation, do you?

Here’s what the timeline looks like:

Laser hair reduction: A series of six treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart

Halo: A series of two treatments, spaced six months apart

BBL: A series of three treatments, spaced four weeks apart

This is just a starting point. Depending on your needs and the results you’re looking for, you could need additional treatments beyond these recommendations. Starting your treatments in the fall and winter gives you plenty of time to complete your series before those coveted warm months return. It’s also a good idea to schedule a maintenance visit every year or so to maintain your results.

P.S. Check out this great video testimonial from one of Dr. Donaldson’s patients who recently had the Halo & BBL laser treatments. (Spoiler alert: she LOVES her results)

If you’ve been curious about trying laser treatments, give us a call to set up a consultation. During your appointment, we’ll perform an assessment to ensure that you are a good candidate for the laser you’re interested in and determine your best course of treatment.

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